Firstly, Sao Tome is stunning!
From the turquoise beaches to the waterfall cafes to the picturesque city. Everything I heard about this Central African island prior to my visit is true — and then some 😍
Watch all the breathtaking videos here!
Traveling Here;
Sao Tome & Principe is unfortunately NOT visa-free for Ghanaian passport holders and the e-visa application process which should have been straightforward was tedious.
To get a visa on arrival you must first apply for the e-visa authorization letter online on the São Tome Immigration Website BUT this only seemed to work when applied through individual tour agencies in Sao Tome. Yup 👎🏾
After my direct application didn’t get approved for weeks, I used an agency and received authorization in days. Sigh
The total fee ranges from €30 – €100 depending on the agency used. I can assist with agency options when requested via info@maajoa.com
Accommodation In Sao Tome
1. Kenito Hotel
I stayed at the cozy Hotel Kenito for a few days on the island. They had decent rooms with all the facilities working perfectly. The hotel was located in a great neighborhood, they served delicious breakfast at a fee, and provided free airport pick-up services.
The English-speaking hotel owner Mr. Kenito was my hero during my stay after realizing the receptionist and the entire service staff did not speak any English at all.
Sao Tome is a predominantly Portuguese-speaking country and I knew this was the case before visiting. I however hoped to survive roaming the city with a translation app. Plus, I secretly found it adventurous 😂
Mr. Kenito helped translate most things, helped change currency, and arranged an English-speaking guide for all my tours. Such an excellent host!
My room was $53 per night and it overlooked their beautiful pool. Book them via HERE
2. Eden Valley Lodge
I love unique stays so I booked the “luxury” glamping tent for $61 at Eden Valley Eco-Lodge. The lodge also had a waterfall on the property that I was dying to see.
Well, the facilities & services turned out rather disappointing, unfortunately. The owner made an effort to rectify some of the issues on the go & I do hope their service improves in the future.
The home is aesthetically pleasing, but the overall service is 6/10 and that’s me being generous. A perfect example of WKHKYD? 🤣
Look them up on Airbnb or Google (I refuse to post a link 😩)
Touring Sao Tome
Now, the fun part! I started my island tours with the southern tours as suggested by my guide. I booked a 2-day package at €200 approximately with a great tour guide called Joel.
The customized itinerary included both the Northern & Southern tours.
The sites I visited in the south included;
- Cascata Mioba
- Roca Agua Ize
- Boca do Inferno
- Pico Cao Grande
- Rolas Island
- The equator
Plus a lot of lovely Praia’s (beaches) along the way
On the northern tour of the island, I spent time at the lovely Lagoa Azul, (blue lagoon) and I am so glad I did, this was the highlight of my trip 😍
I also,
- Visited the Santa Catarina Tunnel (I truly didn’t see the point of that long drive 🫠)
- Had lunch at Neves, the famous crab-eating place, and I loved it. I left still feeling hungry tho 😂
- We also made more beach stops and I requested that we skipped all the plantation/slave-related attractions (if you’ve followed my socials for a while, you know why)
Contact Joel via +239 996 6012. A truly wonderful guide ❤️
Budget & More
I booked my ticket via the Tap Air Portugal website directly for €350 which was quite pricey for a 2hr flight but, Tap Portugal is the only airline from Accra to Sao Tome currently so you know how that goes 🫠
For meals, I did check out most of the cafes on the island but ended up only eating at one restaurant throughout my stay — simply because it was the only one that had an English-speaking owner 😂
Restaurant Onda Azul had a lovely open space, and terrific food ranging from €7 to €12. Did I mention it overlooks the ocean? The view at night was especially dreamy ✨— Check them out on Instagram
The official Sao Tomean currency is called Dobra, Euros are however wildly accepted everywhere on the island.
I was warned that were NO VISA ATMs on the island (NONE AT ALL) so I traveled with enough cash. I did not want to find out the hard way! 🤣
My all-around budget for this 5-day trip was €1,100 including return flights and meals.
Sao Tome island is beautiful and small, and I loved how everyone seems to keep to themselves here.
Ps. I will host a group trip to this lovely island soon but in the meantime, check out my upcoming Kenya and Zanzibar group trips on my tour page ❤️
As always, happy travels!
@NomadicMaajoa 